All Star Suites...

[airlarry!]

I have never once heard AV provide any reason why we should believe him except for this cheap I have sources type of comments.

I don't remember ever hearing that. However that said I caution everyone that anyone can post anything on the internet.

This is a true statement.

 

[pedro2112]

No one is bashing the Values here. What we’re saying is that Disney is not providing enough for the Values. It’s not the size of swimming pools or the number of little shampoo bottles they leave in your room every afternoon – it’s about the core element that made Disney resorts different than all those places strung out on International Drive.

“Themeing” means using all the elements around to provide a sense of being “somewhere” else. It’s more than just the art stapled to the walls or the cute names for the restaurants. It’s the flickering shadows on the vegetation cast by the torches at the Poly, the “zoom” of the monorail as it glides overhead at the Contemporary, the smell of magnolias at Port Orleans. At its core, truly theming a place is the same as storytelling. In fact, the whole point of a Disney themed hotel was to give you the exact same feeling you get when you walk into a themed land in the Magic Kingdom.

“Decoration” just makes something look more appealing that it would be otherwise. It’s the way a twenty foot Yo-Ho hides the concrete tilt-wall construction blockhouse. Things may look better, but it doesn’t have the same impact as being in a themed resort. The place may be pleasant to be in, but it doesn’t have the same “oh wow – look at this” feeling that the parks pull off.

And it’s not a question of money – like all storytelling it’s more about talent and effort. For the same amount of money they spent at Pop Century, Disney could have designed a place that gave had the same impact as Dixie Landings or Old Key West. It was Disney that decided against putting in this extra effort because of how they see the market.

No one is looking down at anyone staying in the Values. We’re just disappointed with Disney's approach.

That's what I thought you meant, but I wanted to make sure.

I concur 100%.

 

[Bstanley]

I don't remember ever hearing that. However that said I caution everyone that anyone can post anything on the internet.

Indeed.

Personally I've found that portraying myself as a middle-aged ex-paratrooper keeps the pedophiles at bay.

 

[lacy1101]

How nice! Wonder what the rate will be?

 

[YoHo]

It’s the way a twenty foot Yo-Ho hides the concrete tilt-wall construction blockhouse.

Ugh, thanks for the nightmare fuel.


This thread is like a bad trip.
Posts flying out of the ether. Whoa.


Anyway, Jason71, I agree that picking up the mouthbreathers* on 192 and I-Drive was the goal. Too bad it didn't so much work and instead they just got a bunch of repeat visitors to downgrade.



* This is what Disney thinks of it's guests, not what I think. As All Aboard pointed out, It's well established that Eisner and Disney managment think the people that actually like Disney are beneath contempt.

 

[Jason71]

Anyway, Jason71, I agree that picking up the mouthbreathers* on 192 and I-Drive was the goal. Too bad it didn't so much work and instead they just got a bunch of repeat visitors to downgrade.



* This is what Disney thinks of it's guests, not what I think. As All Aboard pointed out, It's well established that Eisner and Disney managment think the people that actually like Disney are beneath contempt.

I would agree, Rule of Unintended Consequences. (Like running buses to get people to go to Downtown Disney and instead causing DD space to fill up with people looking for free parking so no one can go there...oops, wrong out-of-control thread).

BTW, just for the record, I have nothing against I-Drive, seeing as I live only a block off it. I understand you were referring to Eisner & co., but in case anyone else thinks I was trying to run it down.

 

[peter11435]

As All Aboard pointed out, It's well established that Eisner and Disney managment think the people that actually like Disney are beneath contempt.

Where? Show me proof outside of people posts on the internet.

 

[All Aboard]

Peter, I am curious as to what would qualify as "proof" under your demand. Short of Mr. Eisner opening his first segment of "Conversations" with it, I'm not sure what would satisfy you. Would quotes from Disney War? Would writings by other people who worked with him? No matter what anyone could offer up, it would still be third party. So, I don't think it would be possible to satisfy your request.

 

[Bstanley]

While I have a high confidence level that The Big ME thinks that he is a superior being - it's a reach to extend that belief to ALL of Disney Management.

There are a fair number of those guys that started out running 'The Haunted Mansion' years ago and I'm not convinced that all of them have gone over to the Dark Side - even those at the very top.

Perhaps the broadness of the brush is what was being responded to.

 

[YoHo]

I'd like you to name one person in upper managment (besides holdovers in Imagineering, a dead end job if there ever was one) that was with the company that long. Most of them were sycophants and when you're riding on someone's coat tails, you mimick him.

 

[Bstanley]

Didn't Al Weiss start out as a co-op at WDW?

And Greg Emmer was a DL cast member I think.

 

[YoHo]

Neither of whom had much power over how the Values were built.

The best answer would be Dick Cook, but being head of the Studio doesn't really put you in a position to care about the afformentioned mouthbreathers one way or the other. And what of the famed strategic planning?

 

[Bstanley]

I am confident in believing that there are many people in 'Disney Management' that do not think I am 'beneath contempt'.

I even have some hope that B.Iger does not think I am 'beneath contempt' - he hasn't immediately done the things that I would have done in his place - but then again he hasn't done anything particularly 'Big ME'-like and he has made some modest steps in letting the operating groups stand on their own, which IMHO was a good thing. At worst (so far) he hasn't demonstrated that he 'gets it'.

 

[peter11435]

Peter, I am curious as to what would qualify as "proof" under your demand. Short of Mr. Eisner opening his first segment of "Conversations" with it, I'm not sure what would satisfy you. Would quotes from Disney War? Would writings by other people who worked with him? No matter what anyone could offer up, it would still be third party. So, I don't think it would be possible to satisfy your request.

As others have stated Eisner does not represent all of Disney management. To say that Eisner feels this way is one thing but to point that finger at all of Disney management is immature.

 

[Danaans]

I have made observations that things have been different at WDW, but that may be that the landscape is changing via the changing of Disney’s corporate infrastructure. I can only speak from experience and I have noted that you get treated better at the deluxe resorts than you do at the value resorts. Case in point -- bus service. Serious Improvement Needed! I’ve seen cattle cars that have more room.



And as far as Disney on the whole is concerned I have to agree with AV… Remember first, Disney is a business… That logo also now identifies an institution whose $22 billion in annual sales make it the world's largest media company. In fact they might have even written the book on it. Do I think it’s deviated since Walt’s first concept of the amusement park, oh yeah. Wasn’t Walt once quoted as saying a park that was affordable to everyone?



“Disneyland is not just another amusement park. It's unique, and I want it kept that way. Besides, you don't work for a dollar — you work to create and have fun.”

Walt Disney



We’ve come a long way since then.

 

[YoHo]

GAH, Danaans I was gonna quote your post, but all the tags scared me.


anyway

“Disneyland is not just another amusement park. It's unique, and I want it kept that way. Besides, you don't work for a dollar — you work to create and have fun.”

Walt Disney

What a novel concept I wonder what the consultants think of that?

And I'll amend my statement. Anyone in managment that actually matters has contempt for the guests as corporate policy if not personal opinion.

People that get to go to the Company picnic, but don't sit at the executive's table don't count.

 

[peter11435]

I can only speak from experience and I have noted that you get treated better at the deluxe resorts than you do at the value resorts. Case in point -- bus service. Serious Improvement Needed! I’ve seen cattle cars that have more room.

I have always been treated the same at any WDW resort I have stayed at. As for bus service, that is not unique to the values. The moderates and all of the deluxe resorts also have the same bus service.

 

[peter11435]

And I'll amend my statement. Anyone in managment that actually matters has contempt for the guests as corporate policy if not personal opinion.

You really shouldn't make comments with no attempt to substantiate them.

 

[Danaans]

I have always been treated the same at any WDW resort I have stayed at. As for bus service, that is not unique to the values. The moderates and all of the deluxe resorts also have the same bus service.

Peter, In this instance, it was directly related to staying at the ASMo. The bus service on 12/20 was sub-standard. There was not enough busses running to the ASMo, but I counted three, (in the time it took to finally get a bus.....going to the same Deluxe resort)

 

[Danaans]

YoHo...tags...I have tags.....Gag! Sorry I scared you off....

Yup, Disney did say that. I was wondering what current policies now are in effect as far as the Greenback goes....